Broadleaved

Cloud Forest

This forest occurs at the highest elevations on Ta'u and Olosega. These habitats are typified by constant cloud cover, dripping wet conditions, and a clothing of epiphytes on tree trunks and branches. A low-statured, gnarled forest on Ta'u is dominated by two species of tree fern (Cyathea), Syzygium samoense and Weinmannia affinis . Common woody species include Ascarina diffusa, Astronidium pickeringii , Dysoxylum huntii and Streblus anthropophagorum . This forest has been damaged by recent hurricanes (1987 and 1990), and sections are dominated by a scrubland of the woody vine Freycinetia storckii , along with terrestrial ferns (Blechnum vulcanicum , Dicksonia brackenridgei ), Cyathea spp. tree ferns, and shrubs of Cyrtandra spp.

last updated: Wednesday, October 6, 2004